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National Research University Higher School of Economics


Researchers reveal link between attention and communication difficulties in autism

Researchers found that attention networks play a crucial role in communication difficulties in children with autism, affecting verbal and non-verbal communication. Weaker connections in the Dorsal Attention Network and Salience Network led to greater difficulties with understanding gestures, facial expressions, and social signals.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalEuropean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJul 29, 2026

HSE researchers determine which internet users are more likely to fact-check

A study by HSE University found that younger users and those in Moscow and St Petersburg are more likely to fact-check information online. The researchers also discovered that middle- and high-income users are more likely to question the accuracy of content they encounter, highlighting digital inequality.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe monitoring of public opinion economic&social changes·DateJul 8, 2026

HSE scientists uncover how authoritativeness shapes trust

Researchers at HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience found that people tend to trust the current opinion of an authoritative speaker even when new statements contradict their previous position. The study used AI-generated audio recordings of celebrities with opposing views on COVID-19 vaccination and found that participants rated th...

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2026

AI overestimates how smart people are, according to HSE economists

HSE economists found that AI models like ChatGPT and Claude tend to play 'too smart' and lose in strategic thinking games by assuming a higher level of logic in people than is actually present. The study replicated results from previous human participant experiments, showing LLMs adapt to opponents with varying levels of sophistication.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateDec 24, 2025

Scientists identify personality traits that help schoolchildren succeed academically

A new study found that children's personality traits such as conscientiousness and open-mindedness have a significant impact on their academic performance. The research, conducted across seven countries, showed that these traits can help reduce educational inequality and improve social mobility.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalInternational Journal of Educational Research·DateSep 3, 2025

Scientists discover how correlated disorder boosts superconductivity

Researchers from HSE MIEM have demonstrated that controlled defect distribution, or correlated disorder, can enhance superconductivity in materials, allowing it to occur at higher temperatures and extend throughout the entire material. This finding could lead to the development of superconductors that operate without extreme cooling.

HSE scientists reveal how staying at alma mater can affect early-career researchers

A study by Victoria Slepyh found that academic inbreeding, or staying at the same university after graduation, has an ambiguous impact on publication activity. Graduates who moved to different universities had higher publication counts, journal acceptances, and citation counts compared to those who remained at their alma mater.

Scholars disprove existence of ‘crisis of trust’ in science

A large-scale survey of 71,000 people across 68 countries found that most respondents consider scientists competent, honest, and caring about the common good. However, less than half were confident that scientists consider public opinion in their work, highlighting the need for increased engagement in public education.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeSurvey·DateApr 10, 2025

How the brain responds to prices: Scientists discover neural marker for price perception

Researchers found that perceiving prices significantly different from expectations triggers a strong N400 signal in the brain, engaging regions involved in evaluating rewards and learning. This suggests that consumers' perceptions of value are part of automatic cognitive mechanisms activated long before conscious decision-making.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2025

HSE neurolinguists create russian adaptation of classic verbal memory test

Researchers at HSE Centre for Language and Brain create Russian-language adaptation of Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), suitable for testing adults of all ages. The adapted test has been incorporated into the RAVLT World tablet application, providing automated administration and scoring.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe Clinical Neuropsychologist·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2025

Russian scientists improve water purification membranes using metal ions

Researchers have developed polymer membranes with enhanced selectivity for monovalent ions, allowing for efficient water recycling. The use of metal ions such as copper, zinc, and chromium enables the separation of nitrates from sulphates, opening new possibilities for sustainable water treatment.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Membrane Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2025

Tickling the nerves: Why crime content is popular

A recent study by HSE University found that young adults in Russia consume media content about serial killers due to cognitive and emotional motives. Cognitive motives involve understanding the causes of human behavior, while emotional motives allow viewers to experience intense emotions often lacking in everyday life.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalCrime Media Culture An International Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 10, 2025

Acoustic battles for the harem: How the calls of Siberian wapiti reveal their status and individuality

Researchers found that rutting calls of Siberian wapiti stags reflect their harem-holding status and individual characteristics. The study suggests that these acoustic displays enable females to assess a male's quality from a distance, while also signaling to rivals whether it's worth challenging him.

Smoking habit affects response to false feedback

A study found that smoking habits interfere with performance on cognitive tasks involving memory and attention, and impairs a person's ability to detect deception. The study revealed two clusters of participants with differing physiological responses to stress, including pupil dilation and heart rate parameters.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 12, 2024

HSE scientists propose using heart rate analysis to diagnose anxiety and depression

A study by HSE University scientists found that changes in heart rate can serve as an early biomarker for anxiety and depressive disorders. The research used PPG technology to analyze heart function during cognitive tasks, revealing more pronounced changes in individuals with higher levels of anxiety or depression.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2024

Biologists at HSE University warn of potential errors in microRNA overexpression method

Researchers at HSE University discovered that the microRNA overexpression method may produce incorrect results due to errors in Dicer enzyme cleavage. This can lead to the formation of miRNA isoforms that target unintended genes, resulting in inaccurate conclusions about molecular mechanisms.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2024

Financial sector risks can hinder transition to green economy

Research reveals correlation between financial sector risks and increased carbon footprint in bank loans, hindering humanity's progress towards a green economy. The study analyzed CFBL data for 37 countries from 2010 to 2018, finding that systemic risk within the banking sector raised the CFBL in developed countries.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·DateOct 9, 2023

Researchers predict film scores by the activity of facial muscles

A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that the activity of zygomaticus major, heart rate variability, and EEG indicators can predict film scores. The researchers used a machine learning model to analyze physiological data from 21 participants who watched short films and rated them on a scale from 1 to 10.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateAug 31, 2023

HSE researchers question the correctness of experiments denying free will

Researchers from HSE University challenged the famous Libet studies on free will, revealing a lack of correlation between brain activity and decision-making. The study used advanced EEG techniques to investigate the timing of intention awareness and final decision, finding that the latter could be influenced by experimental procedures.

AI researchers have developed an algorithm to determine the properties of two-dimensional materials by analyzing their defects

Researchers developed an AI algorithm to predict the properties of new 2D materials with point defects, achieving 3.7 times greater accuracy than other machine learning algorithms. The model operates 1000 times faster than quantum mechanical computations and can handle multiple defects simultaneously.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateJul 18, 2023

HSE scientists investigate third-party punishment for unfairness

Researchers from HSE Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience examine the brain's reaction to social norms violations and calculate a behavioral index to assess an individual's sensitivity to unfairness. This index can be used to develop personalized rehabilitation programs for patients with various types of behavioral disorders.